Alright guys, I have done plenty of reading up on your expert advice, and study of plans, drawings and pictures - but the time has come to start asking the stupid questions.

I am contemplating my first build and in the hope of keeping it cheap, I want to use materials at hand.
Let's start with the aluminium mast of a 16ft Windrush catamaran, complete with boom and sail.
Why am I not seeing any variation from the windsurfer mast you are all using?
Has anyone seen a stiff aluminium mast used successfully on a land yacht?
Any hints on how to stabilise it without the use of stays and standing rigging?

I am not too phased by building to within class specs and I will colour outside the lines where I see fit but I do want to build a yacht that works. There will be plenty more questions to come, look forward to advice from the most fundamental concepts right up to steering angles (all in time).